Kicking Ass: The Democratic Party's Blog

First 100 Hours Over

Posted by on January 18, 2007 at 01:00 PM

Even haters can't help but admit that Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats are getting things done. The NY Times calls the first 100 hours "a qualified success."

A quick read of the article reveals the "qualified" related to just one thing, the pay-as-you-go rules. But on the whole, the article is pretty much exuberantly hopeful.

More important in terms of substantive future legislation, the ability of the Democrats to win over significant numbers of Republicans on most votes signals the slim but enticing possibility of Democratic mastery over a demoralized Republican Party -- one that has thrived on polarized partisan warfare in recent years.

If the new bipartisanship takes root, the prospects for health care legislation and immigration reform sharply improve.

The following bills have passed the House, and will now go to the Senate and the White House on the path to becoming law:
  • Ethics reform,

  • An increase in the federal minimum wage for the first time in 10 years,

  • Enactment of the 9-11 commission's recommendations,

  • Expanded stem-cell research,

  • Government negotiation of prices with prescription drug companies,

  • Student loan interest rates cut in half,

  • The elimination of billions in subsidies for big oil companies.

Now if the Chicago Bears could just get to and win the Super Bowl, this year would be off to a fantastic start.

Comments (20) «

Second 100?

Fairness Doctrine!!
Bust up the Media monopolies
Fully fund the V.A.
Take apart the PATRIOT ACT
Peel FEMA out of the Dep't of Duct Tape

(Any more suggestions?)

1
DPD on January 18, 2007 at 02:52 PM

I agree DPD, and have three more suggestions:

Fair trade agreements needs to include re-negotiating NAFTA, CAFTA, and eliminating China's favored nation status until they stop playing games with the valuation of their currency.

Initiate an investigation of the no-bid military contracts that have swallowed so many of our tax dollars.

Repeal the tax cuts for the uber rich.

2
Butte on January 18, 2007 at 04:36 PM

Dump the Office of Faith Based Vote Buying is another one.

3
DPD on January 18, 2007 at 04:51 PM

I don't know about any of you, but I have a problem with Pelosi not fighting funding for Iraq. Who paid her off?

This smells bad.

4
WatchfulEye on January 18, 2007 at 05:58 PM

Posted by Christy McConville at 01:00 PM Now if the Chicago Bears could just get to and win the Super Bowl, this year would be off to a fantastic start.

You rock, Christy! :)

5
dorsano on January 18, 2007 at 06:21 PM

Finally! A congress that is working towards and for middle to lower classes!!

6
mattc on January 18, 2007 at 06:50 PM

Finally! A congress that is focusing on working for and towards the middle/lower class!

7
mattc on January 18, 2007 at 06:51 PM

Christy,

What a wonderful world it will be...if Schumer makes his bed up and the Bears bring a championship home to my favorite senator. The NYT piece is very cute. I'm kinda scared at how much I enjoy it. When you work as hard for these guys as we do, they feel like family. I'm very proud of them. Perhaps the "Design on a Dime" team could go in and lively up the place. That is, of course, if the ethics laws permit.

I'm struck with the "regular people" attitude they have. Sometimes power does not corrupt. I'm sticking to that notion. We sent a woman to break through the marble ceiling and clean house. The Senate requires the kind of relationships these guys have built and their people skills to bring over those Republicans looking ahead toward the coming election. It's so good to feel good again. Thanks for the great grab, Christy.

8
fade2bluz on January 18, 2007 at 07:47 PM

{{{DPD}}}
Your list got my vote...especially the Faith Based Bushit office of Big Box Vote Buying

Isn't it funny that the almighty needs my tax dollars to get the work done? Filthy pigs make me sick! Leave me alone with the religion. I'm sick and tired of hearing about it. I know it when I see it. ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHhh

And that includes end timers and their horoscope predictions about the anti-Christ. ....... we need an evolution revolution so science and technology can begin to THRIVE again here....instead of India and China...

ookay, i'm done. sorry.

9
fade2bluz on January 18, 2007 at 07:53 PM

The, Bears.........

;)

10
lavndrblue on January 18, 2007 at 09:42 PM

haha! bears win, i hope the saints go all the way on principle alone....all this from a giants fan.

11
nelson on January 18, 2007 at 09:46 PM

haha! bears win, i hope the saints go all the way on principle alone....all this from a giants fan.

12
nelson on January 18, 2007 at 09:46 PM

Posted by lavndrblue on January 18, 2007 at 09:42 PM The, Bears...

"da" Bears, lavndr. :)

I heard from from Pamb that Bachman embarassed the state of Minneosota on the House floor today. 2008 is your year, lavndr. Godspeed.

13
dorsano on January 19, 2007 at 12:32 AM

And that includes end timers and their horoscope predictions about the anti-Christ. ....... we need an evolution revolution so science and technology can begin to THRIVE again here....instead of India and China...

ookay, i'm done. sorry. Posted by fade2bluz on January 18, 2007 at 07:53 PM

For the time being? Or for good?

Yes, it would be nice if we would have a revolution based on evolution. I hope you are a part of it.

14
Esmeralda on January 19, 2007 at 12:45 PM

Let me add...with the war on terror being world wide, I do believe it has opened us up, as well as other nations, to an evolution revolution so science and technology...build a better soldier with bionics.

Woo-Hoo! The meek shall inherit the earth!

15
Esmeralda on January 19, 2007 at 01:11 PM

I am glad that the House of Representatives were able to pass these bills. And, of course some of these bills will be harder for the Dems to pass in the Senate, as we only barely have the Senate. (I think that one of the solutions to that is for the Dems to get more Senators from the red states, including the south).

But, hopefully come 2008, the Dems will not only have the Presidency, but more members in the House of Representatives and especially the Senate.

16
LavoniaW on January 19, 2007 at 01:32 PM

The Democratic party has much to learn. While we can all be thankful for the victory in November, the first 100 hours turns out to be nothing but a show, in which many issues were ignored. Before the election of November, and after the victory of such magnitude, disabled veterans have tried without success for the Democrats to listen to their agenda. Neither Reid, Pelosi, or Dean would listen or even respond to numerous emails on issues facing disabled veterans.

The Disabled Veterans Tax (HR 303) had over 241 co sponsors before the election in November. It is a bill, with the highest amount of Democratic co sponsorship in the House. It is an issue that President Bush has said he would veto if passed. To try to bring this bill up for a vote, even with Democratic control of the House and Senate, was to much to ask for the Democrats who gained control.

The Veterans Disability tax is an issue in which over 500,000 retired disabled veterans must pay for their own disability after retiring from the Armed Forces. The amount of their disability is deducted from their retirement pay, and then paid to them by the VA as their own disability payment.

In the past the Democrats had professed a large measure of concern for this issue. In the new halls of Congress not one simple word of support. The margin of victory in many states was pretty narrow. Support by disabled veterans believing that the Democratic party had their interests in mind no doubt played some role in this victory.

Before we as Democrats brag about the first 100 hours of success, we must realize that the issues that are ignored speak much louder than the few successes that have been achieved.

If concurrent receipt is not passed for those who are excluded from the few relief attempts to address this issue in the past few years in Congress, veterans who are paying the veterans disability tax will remember who claims to support their issues and take care of their interests in the Congress. The shift of power back to the Republican camp is a good possibility, considering the voting block of 500,000 disabled veterans, including their families, children, neighbors and friends.

17
weavo2 on January 19, 2007 at 10:02 PM

Yes I am very happy that the Democrats have done this in the house. But there are so many questions? Can they get this through the Senate?
Will Hitler(Bush)veto all of these bills. Do the Democrats have the will to keep on winning? Or are they going to do what they have done for so many years and go to sleep at the switch? I am very tried of the Christian right, the oil companies and the drug manufactures running and owning me and this country. I am also sick of stupid wars this country has gotten us into. We have to stop killing for oil, power and pure greed. So saying this. I hope the people of this country and the world grow up and realise that we are all one big happy family. Now there is real family values.

18
usahope1 on January 20, 2007 at 11:13 AM

Too bad about the min wage. I know a local (very small) bookstore who employs teens, particularly teens that are challenged in some way, in order to help ease them into the working world in a safe and friendly family environment. They already operate on a shoe string, as the store barely makes a profit. This will really hurt what they are trying to do for these kids and for our community.

19
Number6 on January 20, 2007 at 08:36 PM

A new perspective on Health Care. Health Insurance Premiums are no longer affordable. Universal Health Care would take the pressure off employers. Employees who want to change their jobs but stay in the same old job because they don't want to lose their health care would have more opportunity. I am a healthy self employed woman age 61 with a health insurance premium of $500 per month just for myself. This is a time in my life I would like things easier. I will be paying this premium now until the age of 65 when I would qualify for medicare barring no increases in premium which is not likely - $30,000. That is outrageous. We need an affordable health care system to take care of my generation. I would like to hear the candidates and what they have to say because I am only hearing about health care for children.

20
time4Achange on January 23, 2007 at 07:59 PM


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